middleman
Deal facilitator, often
A middleman is someone who facilitates transactions between two parties—buying from producers to sell to retailers, or connecting buyers with sellers.
The term often carries negative connotations, suggesting an unnecessary intermediary who adds cost without adding value: Cut out the middleman and buy direct.
In other contexts, a middleman is a neutral go-between or mediator: He acted as middleman in the negotiations.
Agent connecting separate parties
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- agentOne who acts independently
- liaisonConnector between groups
- conduitTube conveying fluid or cables
representative · delegate · channel · connector · link · proxy · envoy · arbiter
One who sells goods
- distributorEntity channeling goods downstream
- wholesalerBulk goods middleman
- retailerOne who sells goods
- resellerMerchant who redistributes goods
vendor · merchant · trader · supplier · importer · exporter · jobber · stockist
Payment for services rendered
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- cutSeverance or reduction
- percentageProportion out of hundred
- marginEdge of a page
spread · surcharge · kickback · premium · overhead · service charge · finder's fee · brokerage
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
conciliation · wheeling and dealing · diplomacy · compromise · parley · talks · settlement · accord
go-between
Agent connecting separate parties
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- agentOne who acts independently
- liaisonConnector between groups
conduit · representative · delegate · channel · connector · link · proxy · envoy · arbiter · referee
dealer
One who sells goods
- distributorEntity channeling goods downstream
- wholesalerBulk goods middleman
- retailerOne who sells goods
reseller · vendor · merchant · trader · supplier · importer · exporter · jobber · stockist · consignor
commission
Payment for services rendered
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- cutSeverance or reduction
- percentageProportion out of hundred
margin · spread · surcharge · kickback · premium · overhead · service charge · finder's fee · brokerage · take
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
haggling · conciliation · wheeling and dealing · diplomacy · compromise · parley · talks · settlement · accord · dispute resolution
- traderstrader, merchant, retailer, vendor, dealer
- middlemenbroker, brokers, agents, dealer, wholesaler
- logisticsshipping, delivery, warehouses, warehousing, shipment
- trade & commercetrade, exports, imports, tariffs, merchant
- Dealmakingdeal, negotiator, bargaining, offer, counteroffer
- informal rolesleader, follower, peacemaker, troublemaker, mentor
middlemanproducer
One who makes things
consumer · manufacturer · end user · source · buyer
middlemandirect line
Immediate communication channel
peer-to-peer · direct connection · principal · direct-to-consumer · face-to-face
middlemanstakeholder
Party with an interest
principal · fighter · vested interest · decision-maker · advocate
- cut out the middlemanRemove unnecessary intermediaries